Shloka 16

Śravaṇa–Kīrtana–Manana: Definitions and Hierarchy of Śaiva Sādhanā (श्रवणकीर्तनमनन-निरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

श्रवणं कीर्तनं शंभोर्मननं च महत्तरम् । त्रयं साधनमुक्तं च विद्यते वेदसंमतम्

Transliteration

śravaṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ śaṃbhormananaṃ ca mahattaram | trayaṃ sādhanamuktaṃ ca vidyate vedasaṃmatam

Translation

Das Hören der heiligen Berichte über Śambhu, das Singen Seiner Lobpreisungen und die tiefere Betrachtung über Ihn—diese Dreiheit wird als geistiges Sādhana verkündet, wahrhaft im Einklang mit den Veden.

Word by Word

• श्रवणम्: hearing (listening)
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) < श्रु (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; action-noun (bhāva)

• कीर्तनम्: chanting/praising
• कीर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) < कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; action-noun (bhāva)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive

• मननम्: reflection/meditation
• मननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनन (प्रातिपदिक) < मन् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; action-noun (bhāva)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महत्तरम्: greater
• महत्तरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) < महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; comparative degree (तर)

• त्रयम्: the triad (threefold set)
• त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; numeral collective

• साधनम्: means/practice
• साधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक) < साध् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said/declared
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with साधनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वेदसम्मतम्: approved by the Vedas
• वेदसम्मतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानां सम्मतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with (त्रयं/साधनम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva’s Veda-approved disciplines to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes Veda-sanctioned bhakti-jñāna praxis (śravaṇa–kīrtana–manana) as a direct means toward Śiva’s liberating grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It defines a Veda-sanctioned Shaiva sādhanā: śravaṇa (receiving Śiva-tattva through scripture and guru), kīrtana (devotional utterance that purifies the mind), and mananam (interior contemplation that ripens devotion into steady knowledge of Pati, Lord Śiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Śravaṇa and kīrtana supply the sacred meaning and praise that accompany Liṅga-pūjā, while mananam internalizes the form (saguṇa) into abiding remembrance, leading the devotee toward realization of Śiva beyond limitation (nirguṇa) without rejecting worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regularly listen to Śiva Purāṇa and Śiva-stotras (śravaṇa), chant His names and the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya” (kīrtana), and then sit in quiet reflection on Śiva as Pati and refuge (mananam), ideally alongside daily Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma and rudrākṣa where appropriate.